Prabhakar Bhagwat – Architects in Mumbai
Professor Prabhakar B. Bhagwat, affectionately known as Bade Sir, was born in 1930. His journey into the world of landscape architecture began in the Empress Botanical Gardens of Pune, under the tutelage of his father, Superintendent Bhalchandra Vitthal Bhagwat. Immersed in nature’s embrace, he developed an innate affinity for landscapes and plant life from an early age, starting his career as a garden apprentice at just 15 years old.
Educational Odyssey and Professional Evolution
His educational pursuit led him across continents. After graduating from Poona Agricultural College, he ventured to Denmark, studying at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and apprenticing with C. Th Sorenson. His quest for knowledge then took him to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where he was among the select few students under Brian Hackett’s landscape design course. Returning to India, he assumed the superintendent role at the Empress Botanical Gardens. Subsequently, he contributed his expertise at Mumbai’s JJ College of Architecture and later pursued town planning at IIT Kharagpur, pioneering the nation’s first landscape program.
The Architectural Pedagogue
Professor Bhagwat’s commitment to education was unwavering. In 1992, he established and led the landscape design program at CEPT (Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology) for over two decades. His dedication extended beyond classrooms, influencing the landscape architecture domain profoundly.
Legacy of Innovation and Professional Endeavors
In 1973, he founded M/s. Prabhakar B. Bhagwat, fostering an architectural legacy that merged academia and practice. Recognized for his contributions, he earned lifetime membership with the British Landscape Institute. To fortify the landscape architecture profession in India, he established the Indian Society Of Landscape Architects (ISOLA) in 2003. Furthermore, in 2007, he initiated the Landscape Environment Advancement Foundation (LEAF), a research arm dedicated to exploring landscape design, plant material, and sustainability.
Championing Landscape Architecture in India
Regarded as India’s inaugural qualified landscape architect and a pioneering figure in the profession, Prof. Bhagwat was a passionate advocate for discourse and research. His profound belief in the significance of plant material and sustainability permeated his teachings, practice, and advocacy, shaping the landscape architecture discipline in the country.
